Marco Polo Project
Replica could be on view in August

CINDY WILSON/TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL A view of the replica of the Marco Polo, which at 18 metres high and 27 metres long is about 40 per cent of the size of the original ship.

SANDRA DAVIS
TELEGRAPH-JOURNAL
Nov 06/07

    If everything goes according to plan, the long-awaited replica of the Marco polo may sail across the harbour on a barge next August to take its place somewhere on the waterfront where on the other side of the harbour," says Barry Ogden.
   "I bet you we would pack the waterfront." August is close to the 125th anniversary of the day the Marco Polo went down off Cavendish - July 25,1883.
   "I would love to be able to take her over by barge on that day," says Ogden. Ogden, a teacher, has been working on building a replica of the famous sailing clipper for the past two decades. Representatives from the Port of Saint John and Ogden have had preliminary conversations about possibly having the Marco Polo displayed near the new $8million terminal on Water Street, which is expected to be complete next summer. Capt. Al Soppitt believes the general Pugsley area - which will be transferred into a park and waterside shopping area -might be a"nice fit"for the Marco Polo. "There would be a lot of issues that we would have to deal with - when is it going to be ready, the other people involved, liability, maintenance and upkeep;' said Soppitt, who is president and CEO of the Saint John Port Authority. "We wouldn't plan to take that on. "When we know what the ship looks like, when they would plan to have it ready, then I guess there would be a number of people who would think about where it might go. This is only one area that might be the right place and I'm sure there will be other input into that:" The $300,000 Marco Polo non-sailing replica is 18 metres high and 27 metres long - about 40 per cent of the size of the original ship. It sits on a cradle donated by Ocean Steel in Shed 8 on West Side port property.
   Work on the ship, which is about half built, has stopped for the winter, although the fundraising and planning continues, says Ogden, with Simonds High School students building three deck houses.
   There are no plans to finish the Marco Polo's interior but it might come about, says Ogden. Once outside, it will have to be painted and other measures taken to Irotect it from the elements, he said.

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